Category Archives: Holidays

Jun7

Happy 29th Birthday To Me!!

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Happy 29th Birthday To Me!!

Hello!!!! Break out the fanfare, parades, and marching band because it is your favorite Lil Red blogger’s 29th birthday!! Johnny and I have been enjoying a low key birthaversary celebration starting this past weekend because the world gave us a gift: The release of Diablo IV! We have been LOVING it, even though it’s basically the same as all of the other installments in the Diablo series. But, hey, if it’s not broken then don’t fix it! 😀

Although I am not too fond of growing older, I have high hopes for 29 because 28 lightweight sucked lol. And by lightweight, I mean majorly. I had two good months after I turned 28 and that was pretty much it due to some devastating circumstances in my family. Honestly, it’s hard to believe I’m only 29 when I have felt 50 for the past almost year. And, yes, my aching back can confirm. *Face palm*

I have a few birthday wishes this year and the biggest, most important one is that my loved one in the hospital is blessed with perfect health. And, of course, I am wishing the best for my Johnny, family, friends, and darling readers. My final wish for 29 is one for me… I wish that I have more than two good months and for my online work to go even better than it already is because that is a major high point in my life. I know you aren’t supposed to say your wishes, but sometimes putting them out into the universe is the best thing you can do to make them come true!

Happy Birthday To Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Jun6

BFF Birthday Haul

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BFF Birthday Haul

Hello!! It is birthaversary week for myself and my darling Johnny and it is also Gemini season, baby! Not only is this a special time of the year for me and my main squeeze, but it is also a month long celebration with my Gemini Twin and best friend in the entire world, Kate. Kate is the fantastic author of Live In The Nautical and we became fast friends almost a decade ago when lifewithlilred first began. We share almost week apart June birthdays and, although I am not very into astrology, we both definitely live up to our Gemini status!

Every year for birthdays and Christmas, Kate spoils me rotten and she truly outdid herself this year. Both of us share a passion for musicals and she hooked me up with all of the swag from one of my all time favorites – Sweeney Todd. Check it out:

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This haul was more like a giftathon because every other day for the past week, I received another package in the mail from my bestie. Every time I got a call from my dad saying that another package arrived, I would rush over to my parents, who live not even five minutes away to pick it up. It was so exciting because I would text Kate immediately after opening a gift and couldn’t believe it when she told me that there was more!

I am loving my new coffee mug to add to my huge collection and the soft and comfy as can be T. The true piece de resistance, however, was the cutting board fresh from Mrs. Lovett’s Pie Shoppe. I actually really wanted a new cutting board for my birthday, which Kate didn’t know and just shows how strong our bestie telepathy is! She knows me so well. ❤

Every day since Kate and I met, I am so thankful to the blogosphere for bringing us both together in a perfect instance of cosmic fate. We basically skipped the line to best friend status and my days feel SO weird if we haven’t texted at least once! Kate is such a shiny, bright light in my life and has and always will be a complete godsend – especially during this current rough patch that I am going through. Her constant care and support never fail to make me smile no matter how bad I am feeling and I am the luckiest gal in the world to be able to call someone like her my best friend. ❤

Thank you to my BFF and Gemini Twin for the amazing gifts, love, and years of beautiful friendship. Here’s to living all year round like it is Gemini season – you know both of your favorite bloggers will be! ❤

What is your favorite musical? Have you met any friends through the blogosphere? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun4

Happy Anniversary To Us!

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Happy Anniversary To Us!

Hello!! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is mine and Johnny’s second wedding anniversary! When we set our wedding date, we decided to make a week long celebration better known as our birthaversary. Johnny’s birthday is on the first, our wedding anniversary is the fourth, and my birthday is on the seventh. Other than Halloween, it is the happiest time of the year!

Last year, we had a big housewarming/birthaversary party to ring in our move to a bigger apartment and it was a hoot. This year will definitely be more low-key and that is A-okay with us. These past few months have been nuts and we have something to keep us occupied all weekend long – the release of Diablo IV! We have been looking forward to it for so long and it is, honestly, the best gift we could have! 😀

After getting married, the resounding question that Johnny and I were asked was if anything felt different. We always said no because it didn’t! Married or not, we are still the exact same goofy, fun loving couple and we love each other with the heat of a thousand suns lol. But, we are both so very happy to be married and it was the best day ever:

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^^^ Lol

Despite mine and Johnny’s big personalities, we had a very small wedding ceremony with our closest friends and family and it was perfect. From our all black attire to the fact that I walked down the aisle to the Family Matters theme song, our little wedding was one million percent us and I wouldn’t trade one part of it for the world. We look back on this day with so much fondness and still laugh about when our ordained minister bestie described our relationship as a “fresh of breath air”. We also have a laugh attack every time we think about the young drunk stranger who insisted we shotgunned Trulys together while we walked to our hotel. I mean… you’re not going to not! 😀

Mine and Johnny’s wedding anniversary falls very shortly after my parents’ who just celebrated their 42nd anniversary. In forty-two years, Johnny and I will still be the most emo, amazing couple around and I can’t wait for every day of the rest of our lives. ❤

Are you celebrating a special occasion soon? Are there any other Diablo fans in the house? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun1

Happy Birthday, Husband!!!!

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Happy Birthday, Husband!!!!

Hello!!! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my sweet husband, Johnny’s, birthday!!! Today rings in the beginning of our birthaversary, as our two year wedding anniversary is on the fourth and my birthday is on the seventh. I can’t wait to celebrate!! Johnny is my darling, angel, love of my life and he is the absolute best husband, uncle, and bunny dad in the world. No matter what we do together, we always have SO much fun. Johnny isn’t just my husband, but my AI ride or die bestie too! ❤

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Mine and Johnny’s first date almost four years ago was truly love at first sight and we have been inseparable ever since. It was most definitely a whirlwind romance and we are still going stronger than ever all of these years later. Johnny is the most funny, kind, talented, smart, hardworking man and he makes me so proud every day. His endless love and support have gotten me through some really hard times these past few months and he knows how to make me smile even when I don’t feel like it.

Being with Johnny is so easy and we spend ninety-nine percent of our time laughing! We genuinely enjoy each other’s company and it is such an effortless relationship. And to think, I swore off of dating the week before Johnny asked me out. We were both unknowingly crushing on each other on Facebook so I wasn’t about to say no! Our first date was, hands down, the best date of my life and every day since has been the best too. I just love him more than words can say. ❤

Happy birthday to my Johnny, who has made me the happiest gal in the world. Here’s to many, many more birthaversaries together! I love you!!!!!!

May14

Happy Mother’s Day!!!!

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Happy Mother’s Day!!!!

Hello everyone and Happy Mother’s Day!!!! Today, we celebrate all of the amazing moms around the world and I like to think of this as my first Mother’s Day now that I have Melvin and Penelope lol. Hey, they are the closest thing Johnny and I will ever get to having kids! Of course, the real star of the day is my wonderful, beautiful, fantastic, strong, hilarious, and every good adjective that I can think of mom. ❤

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My mom is my ride or die, A1 bestie. I am literally obsessed with her and we are typically in constant contact throughout the day because she shares the same sentiments about yours truly. We end up missing each other as soon as I leave the room or hang up the phone! My mom is a true class act and handles every difficulty life hands her with the utmost strength, grace, and resilience. She is a fighter, warrior, and the best mom; being her daughter is an absolute gift and I feel proud of that every single minute of every day. I love her so much I can hardly stand it! ❤

I would not be the person, friend, wife, and business owner that you all know and love without my mom guiding, supporting, and cheering me on every step of the way. We are each other’s own personal cheerleaders and I always know who to go to when I have exciting news, need a kind word, or just want to chat about nothing. The bond I share with my mom is something that I am eternally grateful for and I wish I could shrink her cute little self and carry her around in my pocket all day. Lol, is that weird? 😀

My mom deserves to be celebrated every day and I cannot wait to create more memories with my partner in crime by my side. Happy Mother’s Day to all of you and I love you, mom, more than words can say!

What is something special about your mom? What is your favorite memory with your mom? MOMS!! I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

 

Apr27

5 Ways To Treat Your Dad This Father’s Day

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5 Ways To Treat Your Dad This Father’s Day

Switch up Father’s Day this year by creating an unforgettable day geared specifically toward your dad’s preferences, likes, and wants. From exclusive experiences and thoughtful gifts to delicious meals and heartwarming moments – here are five ideas to ensure it stands the test of time:

Take Him On An Adventure:

How about organizing a day trip to one of your nearest national parks for a leisurely hike and picnic lunch? Alternatively, you could book him an adrenaline-inducing activity such as skydiving or bungee jumping for him to experience! Indulging in activities that excite him, and treating him to a day all about his favorite hobbies, will help create a memorable experience he’ll never forget.

Not only is an experience gift a great way to go, but you can also incorporate additional gifts based around your adventure. If you’re hiking, customize a canteen or backpack. Or, if you are going golfing, treat your dad to some ball markers with your logo or anything you see fit to commemorate the day. These gifts can be used time and time again and will be a lovely reminder of your outing together.

Get Him Something Unique:

Father’s Day is an opportunity to show your father just how much you value him, and one way is by getting him something unique. From jewelry and watches to tech gadgets and lifestyle accessories like a drone, there’s sure to be an item or two out there that would bring a smile and add excitement to his everyday life! Giving something you think your dad wouldn’t buy for himself will always be an awesome Father’s Day surprise. You could even try to find a Rolex for sale that he has been ogling since forever!

Plan A Special Meal:

Enjoying a wonderful meal together is one of the easiest yet most meaningful ways you can show your dad just how much he means to you. Try planning breakfast-in-bed, dinner at his favorite spot, or even something truly original, like making him something yourself that honors his heritage or favorite cuisine. Spending time enjoying meals together will bring great pleasure on all sides!

Spend Quality Time Together:

Sometimes the greatest gifts don’t come wrapped up neatly – show your father just how much he means to you by setting aside quality time just between the two of you. Plan an afternoon of golf together or invite him over for homemade treats and old classic family movies at your place; whatever it may be, both of you can relax while reconnecting.

Write Him A Letter:

Father’s Day provides the ideal opportunity to show your dad how much he means to you by writing him an emotional, heartfelt letter. Express how proud of him you are; recall fond memories together and express how important he is to you; even include photos as an extra special gesture! Your letter can become something lasting which will always remind him how special the love you share is! A thoughtful letter makes an everlasting keepsake that can be looked back upon with fondness for years afterward.

No matter how you spend Father’s Day, enjoy yourselves! Whether you’re out for an adventure or a low key day, the time spent together is the most important thing!

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Apr8

Happy Birthday, Sister!!!

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Happy Birthday, Sister!!!

Hello!!! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my big sister, Kristen’s, birthday!! Kristen and I are barely over two years apart in age and she was and will always be my first best friend. She is such an amazing sister, daughter, and mother and I am so indescribably proud of her. Thanks to Kristen and her equally awesome husband, Ramon, I have two precious nieces who are my world. They are the happiest, most loved little girls and I can’t sing praises of their parents enough. A sister is a gift and I am so thankful for mine:

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Kristen is my A1 and despite having drastically different schedules, we still make time for each other as much as we can. We are always trying to cook up fun plans for us and the kiddos and I live for our trips to the park, zoo, and story time at the library. My favorite hang out is when Kristen, Ramon, and the girls come over to my apartment for dinner. I love to host and cook and it brings me so much joy to make a big meal and then enjoy Johnny’s guitar playing or watching a movie or show all together. It isn’t a day at the zoo, but it sure is the absolute best. ❤

My sister is one of the kindest, empathetic, funniest people I have ever met. She is a fierce warrior for animals and is such a great pet parent to her two rescue dogs and two rescue cats too. Whenever she can, Kristen still manages to find time to volunteer at shelters and lends her voice to the animals that have none. I thought I was good at making schedules, but I truly pale in comparison to her. Between family life, work, and volunteering, I genuinely have no idea how she does it all and with a smile on her face to boot!

Throughout my childhood, Kristen has been my role model and she still is every single day as adults. I just love her to pieces and can’t wait to celebrate her special day together! ❤

Happy birthday, Kristen!!!!! ❤ ❤ ❤

Apr6

Happy Birthday, Dad!!!!!

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Happy Birthday, Dad!!!!!

Hello!! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my dad’s birthday!!! I am a huge mommy and daddy’s girl and I am so beyond proud to be the daughter of such amazing parents. Times have been very trying in Lil Red’s world and my dad has been my rock, confidant, and shoulder to cry on. His strength is unparalleled, his love for his family is fierce, and his devotion to my mom is a prime example of true and pure love. He is, simply, the best.

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As I continue to get older, I am constantly blown away by how selflessly my parents give without ever expecting anything for themselves. This has molded me into the person I am today and I see it reflected in my work as a provider for people with developmental disabilities every day. One of my favorite things that my dad has ever done for me goes back to my college days when I had a really early winter class at Tri-C. Every single morning, without fail, my dad would get up and prepare a travel mug of coffee for me to drive to Cleveland with. The first day of class, I tried to make coffee for myself and it sucked. When I told my dad about it, he took it upon himself to do it for me all in the name of me waking up enough to drive to school safely. I think about this often and my heart feels just as warm as my hands were as I cradled a hot travel mug in the bitter winter cold.

Watching my parents’ relationship continue to bloom after almost forty-three years of marriage also was a major assist in my own love life. After dating a lot of assholes, I threw up my hands, gave up, and waited for the real thing. Then, I met Johnny and, well, you know the rest. He was the first guy who my dad ever approved of and that honestly told me everything that I need to know. I am so lucky to have the parents that I have, whose opinions I value, whose company I cherish, and who still continue to push me to be my best self at almost twenty-nine years old.

My dad isn’t the biggest fan of birthdays so I will wrap things up by saying that I love him so very much and he is the best dad that a gal could ever ask for. ❤

Happy birthday, Dad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ❤ ❤ ❤

Mar22

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!!

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Happy Birthday, Mom!!!!

Hello!!! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my mom’s birthday!! My mom is my best friend in the whole world and, I hate to brag, but she’s the best mom in the whole world too. Every day she inspires me with her strength, bravery, and positivity and I am a better person because of it. People always seem to have a fear of turning into their parents as they age, but that is far from the case with me. As I get older and catch myself doing “mom-isms” of my own, I feel proud to be even an iota like her! Check out this stunning beauty:

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My mom fiercely loves her family, grandchildren, and pets and faces every single hardship with a smile on her face because of it. She radiates joy and it is impossible to be in a bad mood around her. And, if you are, you’ll forget about it after just a few minutes of being with her. Even at almost twenty-nine, a hug from my mom still serves as my favorite cure all and I always can’t wait to see her again as soon as our visits end. ❤

As I type this, Melvin and Penelope are out running around and I have my mom to thank for that. Watching her care for our family dogs and be an A+ pet parent all of my life makes me want to provide nothing less for my bunnies. As I type this, my watercolor flowers that we just painted together are still on my desk and I have my mom to thank for that too. By signing herself, me, and my sister up for a class this past summer, she gave me and her a brand new hobby to do together. I feel proud that she encouraged all of us to try something different and that we are still painting several months later.

Everything I love, I have my mom to thank for because she has been with me every step of the way with her endless support and unconditional love. Being her daughter is a gift and I love her so very, very much. Happy birthday to the best mom and I will see you later today!

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Feb22

Post V-Day Sweetness

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Post V-Day Sweetness

Hello! Johnny and I went to see Hadestown at Playhouse Square as our main Valentine’s Day event and had the best time! We still listen to the soundtrack basically every day and it has been playing on a constant loop in our heads since the show. Prior to going to the theater, mine and Johnny’s dinner plans got sidetracked and he felt so bad that I barely ate at the restaurant we went to. In my defense, the food wasn’t good at all lol and I told him I didn’t want anything else for Valentine’s Day. Of course, Johnny didn’t listen!

Last week, he ordered a DVD of the NBC live taping of Jesus Christ Superstar just for me. Well, actually it might have been more for him since Alice Cooper played King Herod! But I digress. Jesus Christ Superstar is my all time favorite musical and we saw it last year at Playhouse Square for our Valentine’s Day date. Several years ago, I was so stoked that NBC was going to do a live taping for Easter and very much enjoyed the production. However, I haven’t seen it since it aired on TV. So, needless to say, I flipped my shit when he gave me my part two gift.

This past Saturday, Johnny and I DoorDashed some dinner and watched the DVD together for an at home date night and it was a blast. My heart simply exploded over the fact that Johnny was singing along to the lyrics with me when I had to damn near beg him to watch the original film with me when we first started dating! It was fun to compare and contrast the Playhouse Square show to the live taping and it was the cutest thing to hear Johnny deem production decisions as a “good choice”. Lol, he’s turning into a theater nerd just like his old ball and chain! ❤

The Post V-Day Sweetness didn’t end after our viewing of JCSS because we also had company over that night. Me, Johnny, and our bestie, Cliff, have become obsessed with Saturday night wrestling purely for shits and gigs. It has now become a weekend tradition and we couldn’t wait for the cage match event. When I saw Cliff prior to Valentine’s Day, I jokingly told him and Johnny that I expected chocolate from each of them. I didn’t expect Cliff to take me seriously in the slightest and he presented me with this:

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Apparently, Cliff was running errands and saw a Red box of chocolates and couldn’t not get it for me! Cliff is one of the kindest people that I have ever met and he is so thoughtful. Like me, he is constantly storing away gift ideas and when I said I wanted chocolate even as a joke, he took note. Cliff has been Johnny’s best friend since kindergarten and it really touches me whenever he thinks about me for a gift giving occasion too!

I spent Saturday evening being spoiled by my two best guys and I feel so lucky to have had not one but two Valentine’s Day celebrations. Here’s to many more and all of the Saturday night wrestling!

How did you celebrate Valentine’s Day? How do you like to spoil your friends? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah